I kept my hand on Rome’s thigh, reminding her I was always there. I was an invisible concrete wall around her, so thick and powerful that nothing could break through. She would always be safe under my protection.
Rome did her best to behave normally, but she didn’t smile again for the rest of the night. She didn’t say a word to me either, eating in silence and never meeting my gaze. She probably wanted to leave so she wouldn’t have sit in the same room as that horrible human being.
But we couldn’t leave.
There wasn’t a statement more powerful than holding our ground. I’d proven that I wasn’t afraid of him, that a ballroom full of witnesses didn’t change my treatment of him. And Rome proved that she wouldn’t run either.
We just had to get through the rest of the night.
I pressed my face to her temple and kissed her hairline, comforting her in the only way I knew how at the moment.
My touch didn’t make her melt like it usually did. Like she was frozen, she didn’t feel anything. “I need to use the restroom.” She tossed her napkin on the table and excused herself.
Of course, I followed her.
Our table was near the edge, so leaving the ballroom without distracting anyone else was easy. I trailed behind her and watched her hips shake as she walked in her sky-high heels. When we exited the room, I caught up to her and moved my arm around her waist.
She darted out of my hold and into the bathroom, like my touch was the last thing she wanted.
I felt the offense burn into my skin at her rejection. She didn’t need anything else but me to get through this. I put my hands in my pockets as I waited for her, wondering if she was crying inside the women’s restroom.
I only lasted a few minutes before I walked inside and joined her.
She stood at the sink with her hands resting against the counter. Her head was tilted to the sink, and she breathed slowly. There were no tears, but she obviously needed the privacy of the bathroom to get a hold of the emotions she was battling deep inside.
I glanced underneath the stalls and realized we were alone. I kept my distance and crossed my arms over my chest, standing at the opposite end of the counter so she would still have space if she needed it.
She finally noticed my approach and turned to me. “Sorry…I just wanted a moment where I didn’t have to put on a face.”
“I understand.” Wearing a mask took energy. Pretending to feel one emotion when you felt the complete opposite was exhausting. I did it from time to time. “But we can’t leave, Rome. We need to back in there and stay for the rest of the evening.”
“I know…”
“There’s absolutely no reason to be scared.” As long as I was alive, I would make sure he never bothered her again. There wasn’t anything he could do to get through me. Even a bullet wouldn’t stop me.
“I know that too.”
“That guy is a goddamn pussy. He’s not gonna bother you anymore.” Hank didn’t put up a fight whatsoever. He only harassed Rome because she was smaller than he was. But when he came face-to-face with a real opponent, he ran for the hills. It was absolutely pathetic. “He knows I have just as much as power. He knows I know the same people. If he makes another move, and I catch him in the act, he’ll be done for. He knows it. I know it.”
She finally turned back to me, looking breathtaking even when she was worked up. The dress was tight around her petite waist, and her hair was still luscious and thick. I wanted to kiss away all her fears. “I wouldn’t know what to do without you, Calloway…”
My eyes softened.
“I’ve never needed a man for anything.” She looked at the ground because she couldn’t look at me anymore. “But…I need you for everything.”
The vulnerability in her voice went straight to my heart. She hardly ever admitted weakness to anyone, even me. But she confessed her soul to me, told me her truest and darkest feelings. My heart did a strange thing in that moment. It tightened and ached like she hurt me rather than flattered me. Knowing this fiercely independent and powerful woman needed me filled me with a strange sense of joy. Once I laid eyes on her, I wanted to be everything that she was missing. I wanted to fix everything that was broken. I wanted to give her a life she deserved.
And I knew why.
I joined her where she stood in front of the sink and cupped her face. Instead of kissing her, I pressed my forehead to hers and closed my eyes, savoring the powerful connection between us. Without feeling her pulse, I could feel her heartbeat. Without feeling her soul, I could feel her love. This woman was the most beautiful thing I possessed, the rarest diamond in a sea of jewels. I loved to worship her and protect her, and knowing she wanted me to do those things gave me a sense of fulfillment.